Big Download Blog

CES 2009: Everquest 10th anniversary book announced

Posted Jan 9th 2009 8:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Culture, MMO

Sony Online Entertainment held its annual CES press event this week and during the invite only event the MMO game publisher announced plans to work with Brady Games to publish a new hardcover book to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their flagship game Everquest.

During the event the cover for the hardcover book was displayed in public for the first time which features art from Donato Giancola. The final book will feature behind-the-scenes artwork on the development of the MMO franchise, interviews with the key people behind the game (including Sony Online head John Smedley who is standing to the right of the book cover image) and more. Brady Games is taking pre-orders for the book which will cost $49.99 and will be released later this year. This is just the start of celebrations that Sony Online will hold around the country this year for Everquest's 10th anniversary.

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CES 2009: Will PC games with high graphics be streamed to your browser?

Posted Jan 9th 2009 7:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Hardware

Server-side software is becoming more of a buzz word now in PC applications, as is "cloud computing" but PC processor maker AMD wants to see PC games and other media join in that streaming method. During CES this week AMD announced a plan with a software company called OTOY (pronounced O-Toy) to create a new super computer that could make this possible.

The computer effort is called the AMD Fusion Render Cloud and AMD claims this will be the fastest super computer ever made with a goal to break the one petaFLOPS barrier in processing power. AMD say the computer will "enable content providers to deliver video games, PC applications and other graphically-intensive applications through the Internet "cloud" to virtually any type of mobile device with a web browser without making the device rapidly deplete battery life or struggle to process the content."

In a CES address can can been seen at this web site, AMD showed a notebook computer that ran Mercenaries 2 with the game being streamed to the notebook via a web browser rather than stored on the hard drive. The game's publisher Electronic Arts seemed to embrace this new way of distributing games; At the moment, AMD plans to hae their Fusion Render Cloud project up and running by the second half of 2009.

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Download: Football Manager Live client

Posted Jan 9th 2009 6:30PM by Steven Wong
Filed under: Downloads, Simulation, Sports, Full Games

This client installs Football Manager Live, the online version of the sports management game. Users must go to the official website to sign up for a paid subscription to play.

"Football Manager Live is a brand new game from Sports Interactive, the creators of the hugely popular Football Manager series. It is a combination of Fantasy Football, Auction sites, Social Networking and the Football Manager concept all rolled into one."

Download Football Manager Live Client [Windows] (1 MB)
Download Football Manager Live Client [Mac] (2 MB)

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CES 2009: Dell launches new AMD powered XPS gaming desktop

Posted Jan 9th 2009 6:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Hardware

Dell made some noise last year about perhaps transferring most of their gaming oriented PC business to their Alienware division but at CES this year Dell launched a new gaming PC that's all about having AMD inside. The Dell XPS 625 desktop PC supports the so called AMD Dragon platform.

That means the PC has the newly released AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition processor alongside two ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics cards in CrossFire mode. AMD's own OverDrive program also allows for overcloking the processor as well. Pricing for the new XPS 625 PC starts at $999 and it's available now on Dell's web site.

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F.E.A.R. 2 PC demo coming later this month?

Posted Jan 9th 2009 5:30PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Downloads, Demos, FPS, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

It looks like Warner Bros. Interactive won't be disappointing PC gamers by denying them a demo for Monolith's upcoming shooter sequel F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin. Word that a demo would be coming to the PS3 in mid-January prompted a post on the game's official message board confirming that the PC platform will get a demo as well.

According to the note by Monolith's community manager, "I can't give specifics on the release of the demo because of "marketing/pr strategy" but both consoles and pc will be getting a demo all around the same time. I'll release more specifics when I'm able. I've played the demo and it's a ton of fun. I can't wait for the Community to get their hands on it." The full version of F.E.A.R .2 is due for release on Feb. 10.

[Via Blue's News]

Gallery: F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

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CES 2009: Nvidia launches new GeForce GTX 295 and 285 graphics cards

Posted Jan 9th 2009 5:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Hardware

We have already told you that Nvidia has released new drivers that support these new products but now the company has made the official announcement on the new GeForce GTX 295 and 285 graphics cards. The 295 model combines two GTX 200 GPUs on one card while the 285 is a single GPU solution which Nvidia claims has 30 percent more performance than other single GPU solutions.

If you want to spend $499 on a new graphics card then you are in luck as the GTX 295 is now available for sale via several companies for that price. The 285 model will go on sale in about a week, on January 15 in fact, for $399.

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Prototype gameplay trailers go on a rampage

Posted Jan 9th 2009 4:30PM by Steven Wong
Filed under: Downloads, Action, Trailers, Video

These two gameplay videos for Prototype are being shown at CES 2009. They demonstrate different aspects of gameplay, including using powerful weaponry to tear apart enemies and the environment, super wall running capabilities, and stealing the likeness and memories of others. The game is expected to release summer of 2009.

Download Prototype CES 2009 Gameplay Video #1 (324 MB)
Download Prototype CES 2009 Gameplay Video #2 (290 MB)

Gallery: Prototype

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Virtual Bargain Bin: SiN

Posted Jan 9th 2009 4:00PM by David Craddock
Filed under: Features, FPS

Big Download's Virtual Bargain Bin

Congratulations, soldier: you survived another week. It's Friday afternoon, and instead of going out partying with your friends, you're anxious to get home, sit down at your computer, and play some new games. Sounds fun! Too bad you're broke. Lucky for you, PC gaming has an impressive library of classic games that are available online for cheap. Hang out with us every Friday so we can take you on a guided tour of some of the greatest bargains available throughout the many tubes of the Internet.

Welcome Big Download's Virtual Bargain Bin, the cure for your weekend gaming woes. This week's classics: SiN and SiN Episodes: Emergence.

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Dark Void trailers fly high

Posted Jan 9th 2009 3:45PM by Steven Wong
Filed under: Downloads, Action, Trailers, Video

These trailers for Dark Void, shown at CES 2009, demonstrate different gameplay aspects from the sci-fi themed action adventure game. In Dark Void, players take the role of a cargo pilot trapped in the Bermuda Triangle and must battle against an alien race called the Archon to escape. The video above shows off vertical combat, the game's main feature. The other videos show combat against UFO's and sabotaging massive structures.

Download HD Dark Void Vertical Combat Video (49 MB)
Download HD Dark Void UFO Video (101 MB)
Download HD Dark Void Sabotage Video (103 MB)

Gallery: Dark Void

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Windows 7 beta now open to the public..or not [Update]

Posted Jan 9th 2009 3:30PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Downloads, Hardware

If you feel like taking a leap off of a virtual cliff, Microsoft has just the car to drive. As promised earlier this week, Microsoft has now made available the first public beta of Windows 7 to anyone who wants to download the ISO filem, burn it to a DVD and then install it on your PC.

There are always caveats to downloading beta software but early reports from other sites have lots of praise for Windows 7. If you want to give the OS a test drive you had bettter hurry. Microsoft is limited this first Windows 7 public beta to the first 2.5 million downloads. The beta will also expire on August 1.

Update: Looks like Microsoft has pulled that download site for now, apparently due to heavy traffic on the site..imagine that.
[Via Engadget]

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Feature: 10 comics we want to see made into games

Posted Jan 9th 2009 3:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Features, Action, Strategy

The past couple of years have seen a number of games translated into comics. We have seen mini-series and regular series based on Mirror's Edge, Gears of War, Bionic Commando and others released and other comics based on games are in the works.

But what about the other side of the equation? Sure there are lots of games based on Marvel and DC super hero characters but there are lots of other lesser known but still terrific comic titles that we think should be made into games. We have nominated 10 such titles as prime candidate for adaptations. Of course there are tons of other comics that could be made into games but we can uses these ideas as a starting point.

Click on the image above to continue reading 10 comics we want to see made into games

Gallery: 10 Comics That Should Be Games

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Freeware Friday: Transcendence

Posted Jan 9th 2009 2:00PM by James Murff
Filed under: Features, Action, Indie, RPG, Sandbox

Welcome to Freeware Friday, a weekly column showcasing excellent games that you can play free of charge!

Have I mentioned how much I love rogue-like games? The random aspect, the deep and engaging underlying gameplay systems, and the penchant for creating stories out of thin air really set the sub-genre apart from other games. I've already talked about Dwarf Fortress and Nethack before, and there's plenty more where that came from. However, this week is a little known space-combat rogue-like gem called Transcendence. Imagine if Nethack and Star Control 2 got together and had a top-down illegitimate child that went on to bigger and better things. That's Transcendence in a nutshell.

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Relic using Valve's model for free updates for Dawn of War II

Posted Jan 9th 2009 1:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Interviews, RTS, Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War II

Valve's method of offering free downloadable content for their games is rubbing off on other developers, including Relic Entertainment. In a new chat over at Strategy Informer, Relic's lead designer of Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II states that players can expect a bunch of downloadable content for the game after its late February release.

Jonny Ebbert is quoted as saying, "...we're going with the approach that Valve pioneered to just reward the people who actually bought the game with cool stuff. Free downloadable, regularly accessible stuff that enhances the game and then that's an incentive for the people who didn't buy the game to buy it." Details on what it will be like will be released in about a month, roughly when Dawn of War II is due for release in stores.

Gallery: Warhammer 40,000 Dawn Of War 2

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Download: Crayon Physics Deluxe Updated Demo

Posted Jan 9th 2009 12:30PM by Steven Wong
Filed under: Downloads, Demos, Indie, Puzzle

Updated to release 51, Crayon Physics Deluxe lets players solve puzzles by drawing objects that materialize within the game. This demo includes a handful of levels and the full version may be purchased for $19.95 from the official website.

Download Cryaon Physics Deluxe Demo (25 MB)

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CES 2009: Mad Catz announces new Saitek Cyborg X Flight Stick

Posted Jan 9th 2009 12:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Hardware

A while back Mad Catz bought out the UK based gaming PC controller company Saitek which was best known for their highly advanced flight stick controllers. Mad Catz has continued using the Saitek name for a number of its products and during the Consumer Electronics Show this week they announced a new PC addition to the line-up; the Saitek Cyborg X flight stick.

The new product celebrates the 10th anniversary of Saitek's flight stick brand (hence the "X" in the product name) . It contains a trigger and 11 programmable buttons. Parts of the Cybord X can be folded and detached when not in use which can save space when storing the product. The Cyborg X is expected to ship sometime this quarter for $49.99.

While the Cyborg X is made specifically for PC gaming, Mad Catz has also announced their Saitek Aviator Flight Stick for the Xbox 360 and PS3 are also compatible with the PC.

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